Group protests at Tink’s office
The group's letter noted an open letter sent to Tink on October 18 by a Lane Cove resident named Michal, whose nephew Yarden Bibas, his wife Shiri, and their sons Ariel, 9, and baby Kfir, were taken hostage by Hamas.
A group of concerned North Shore Jews protested at federal independent MP Kylea Tink’s North Sydney electorate office on November 17, holding posters of hostages taken by Hamas, and a sign saying, “Kylea does not represent me.”
Co-organiser Jonathan Herrman also delivered a letter on the group’s behalf, for the attention of Tink, who was in Canberra at the time.
The letter noted the hurt and distress caused to the Jewish community of the North Shore by Tink’s decision in federal Parliament on October 16 to vote for a Greens amendment that, while condemning war crimes perpetrated by Hamas, also accused Israel of committing war crimes, and called for an immediate ceasefire.
The amendment did not include key points in a motion put forward by the government, including that the House “calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages”, and “stands with Israel, and recognises its inherent right to defend itself”. When the amendment was lost 107-7, Tink voted for the original motion, which was supported by all Lower House MPs, excluding Greens.
After receiving criticism from NSW Jewish Board of Deputies president David Ossip, and others via comments on social media, Tink said in an October 18 statement, “I unreservedly apologise for any hurt I have caused. That was not my intention”.
The group’s letter noted an open letter sent to Tink on October 18 by a Lane Cove resident named Michal, whose nephew Yarden Bibas, his wife Shiri, and their sons Ariel, 9, and baby Kfir, were taken hostage by Hamas.
It also called on Tink to apologise for voting for the Greens’ amendment, and to produce evidence of any formal representations she’s made to advocate for the immediate release of the hostages.
Tink told The AJN on Tuesday, “My heart goes out to everyone who lost someone they love that day [October 7], and to those families who have been navigating the excruciating reality of having loved ones held against their will.
“This is not acceptable, and is a clear breach of international humanitarian law.”
Tink said she has invited Michal to meet with her to discuss how she can help, and as co-chair of the Australian Parliamentary Friends of the Red Cross, she has “called consistently for both the release of all hostages, and for the Red Cross to have access to them”.
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